Vinyl pressings
by Arlo Guthrie · 1977
The Best Of Arlo Guthrie was first pressed on vinyl in 1977. Every vinyl pressing is listed below with its label, catalog number and runout codes, so you can tell an original from a reissue.
20 pressings came out in 1977, the album's first year, in 11 countries. Compare the label and catalog number on your copy, then the codes etched or stamped in the runout groove (the dead wax around the label): they are the surest sign of an early pressing.
BSK-1-3117 WW-1 #4 ─◁Side A, variant 1
BSK-2-3117 WW-1 ─◁Side B, variant 1
BSK-1-3117 WW-1 #2 ─◁Side A, variant 2
BSK-2-3117 WW-1 ─◁Side B, variant 2
BSK-1-3117 JW-2Runout Side A Etched, variant 1
BSK-2-3117 JW2-2Runout Side B Etched, variant 1
BSK-1-3117 JW-3 #3Runout Side A Etched, variant 2
BSK-2-3117 JW-1 #4Runout Side B Etched, variant 2
BSK-1-3117 LW-2 2 ✲Runout A, variant 1
BSK-2-3117 LW3 1 ✲Runout B, variant 1
BSK-1-3117 LW-2 .. 1 2Runout A, variant 2
BSK-2-3117-LW4. 1 ✲Runout B, variant 2
K-56431-A-1 5 ALLEN ASide A runout, variant 1
K-56431-B-1 3 ALLEN ASide B runout, variant 1
K-56431-A-1 4 ALLEN ASide A runout, variant 2
K-56431-B-1 9 ALLEN ASide B runout, variant 2
MX184771A-side label
MX1847721B-side label
Not sure how to read the runout? See matrix numbers, runout and dead wax and how to tell a first pressing.
By decade, oldest first. Open a pressing for its full label, barcode and runout details.
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records KBS 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records KBS 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records KBS 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Canada | Warner Bros. Records KBS 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 56431First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10448WFirst yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Japan | Warner Bros. Records P-10448WFirst yearLP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo | LP, Compilation, Promo, Stereo · Promo |
| 1977 | New Zealand | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | South Africa | Warner Bros. Records WBC 1368First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| 1977 | Spain | Warner Bros. Records Inc. HWBS 321-168First yearLP, Compilation, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Stereo |
| 1977 | Taiwan | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117First yearLP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| 1983 | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | US | Warner Bros. Records RCV1 3117 / Warner Bros. Records 603497852086LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl | LP, Compilation, Limited Edition, Reissue · Limited, Colored vinyl |
| Year | Country | Label and catalog number | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Australia | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117 / Warner Bros. Records KBS 3117LP, Compilation | LP, Compilation |
| ? | Canada | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117 / Warner Bros. Records KBS 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records K 56 431LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records K 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | Germany | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue | LP, Compilation, Reissue |
| ? | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 56431LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| ? | Italy | Warner Bros. Records W 56431LP, Compilation, Repress | LP, Compilation, Repress |
| ? | UK & Europe | Warner Bros. Records WB 56 431 / Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo | LP, Compilation, Reissue, Stereo |
| ? | US | Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition | LP, Compilation, Club Edition, Reissue · Club edition |
40 vinyl pressings of The Best Of Arlo Guthrie are listed here, from 13 countries, released between 1977 and 2019.
The earliest pressings are from 1977, in US, UK, Australia, Canada and more. One of them is Warner Bros. Records BSK 3117.
Check the catalog number on the label (first-year pressings use BSK 3117, K56431, KBS 3117, WB 56 431) and the codes etched in the runout groove, then compare them with the pressings listed above; for example, BSK-1-3117 WW-1 #4 ─◁ and BSK-2-3117 WW-1 ─◁. Later reissues often keep the catalog number but change the label design or the runout codes.
It depends on which pressing you have and on the condition of the record and its sleeve. Early pressings from the album's home country in near mint condition are usually worth the most; common later reissues are worth far less. Scan your copy with VinylLens to see its value for every grade.
